Steel-car construction.



W. P. BETTBNDORF. STEEL CAR CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION HLED MAY 23,1908` Patented Dec. 14. 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2` darem @7%7@ W, P, BETTENDORE',

ERL C AR GONSTRUCTIUN.

APV?. :ANON zum MAY 23 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 irl vTo all whom it concern:

r'ectane'lilar sha )e and com arises a sine'le narran srariis narrar ernten WILLIAM P. BETTENDORF, DAVENPORT, IOVV'A.

STEEL-can CONSTRUCTION.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM l). BETTEN- nonina citizen of the United States, and 'a resident of Davenport, in the county of Scott and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steel-Car Construction, of which the following is a clear, full, and exact description.

My invention relates to the construction of metal cars and particularly to gondola or gondola dumping cars.

The irincipal objects of my invention are, y first to construct. a gondola car in which the g sheet metal side-walls are madeto take the i place of the side-sills; second, to strengthen i and stiften the side and end- Yalls and posts 2 by the peculiar formation given them; third, g' to provide needle-beams that extend, continuously, from side to side ot the car and at the point where they pass through the center-sill are shaped so that their upper edges for the remainder of their'lengths are practically on the same horizontal plane as the top of the center-sill, and fourth, to otherwise so construct the underfranie and body as to make a strong, durable and economical car, substantially as hereinafter fully described, and as particularly pointed out in the claims.

In thedrawings F i gure l isa side elevation 'of one-haltA ot a gondola.dump-car embodying myimprovements. Fig. 2 is an end 'viewthereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through one side ot' the car-body. Figs. t, 5 and t3 are perspective views of fragmentary parts and details of the walls of the body ot the car. F ig. 7 is a detail view showing a side view of one of the needle-beams removed from the body ot the car. Fig. S is a fragmentary View of the portion of the center-sill through which the needle-beam extends. Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken on dotted lline S-8, i Fig. 3. Fig. 10 is an end view of the endt sill of the underfrarne of the car.

'The underframe 4of the car to which my 'improvements are applied is of the usual center-si'llA, consisting oi an I-beam which,v as shown in the drawings, extends from onel bolster to the other, and has its ends reduced in height, and riveted or otherwise connected to the rear` attaching-plates a of the castv metal parallel extensions B, which latter arch over the bolster and have theendlsills Specification of Letters Patent.

Application `i1ed May 23, 1908. Serial No. 434,670.

@of the ear attached to their opposite ends.

Patented Dee. Mt, i909.

'lhe ends-sills C consist ot or are made fromrolled channel-beams, which have their upper lianges bent upward, as shown in Fig. l0 of the drawings, so as to bring the upper surfaces of said iiange in the same vertical plane as the back of the channel, and so as to produce an outward bulge ot' the web iinniediately below said tlange and forni an enlarged longitudinal bead c that extends the entire length ot' the sill. Near each end of the end-sills the web, below the bead c, is embossed, as at c', to forni a curved seat lfor the end of a push-pole, and thus dispense with the usual push-pole plate.

The single I-beam center-sill is provided with yopenings Z), b, that are located equal distances apart, immediately below the upper flange oiE the saine, and corresponds in contours and din'iensionsI to the -beain needle-beams l). except that the height of the lower portion of the openingl O through which the lower flange of said needle-beam f extends, is increased to correspon". to the distance the top edge of the needle-beam opening is below the top edge ot' the centersill. fit the center of lengh ot' the needlebeams the upper flange thereof is b n'` downward so as to Ytorni a dip, d, the deptn ot' which corresponds to the distance between the top of the opening b and the top ot' the center-sill. rl`hus when the parts ot' the underiranie ot the car are assembled, and the needle-beam is passed transversely through. said openings until the downwardly bent llange of the d ip, (Z, engages the f wider upper end ot' opening l), the engage- 1 nient otl the upper llange of the needle-beam with the upper widened end of the said opening, will raise said needle-beam until the up )er surface of its upper flange is in the saine horizontal plane as the upper surface of the upper flange of the single centersill, andy its lower `[lange is brought Hush against t/he shoulders made. by increasing the height of the lower end of the openings, b, substantially as shown in Fig. 7 ot' the drawings. lhis dip Il may be i'nade either by rip-setting a portion ot' the web 'of the needle-beam immediately under the `flange by a powerful hydraulic press, or by suitably cut ting out the web of thel needle-bea1n immediately under thegcentral portion f the upupper 'fiange downward.

The outer ledges of theJ needle-beams are llt) provided with comparati\'el}1 .short longitul It. whose central vertical points are. tlinally elongated openings E. the ends of! which next the ends of the needle-beams are extended downward slightly. These open- 5. ings have a shaft e extended through them parallel with .he side of the car, which is adapted to roll laterally on its own axis from one, end to the other thereof'. lhe edges of these openings are reinforced by 5,3 (,:astings l?, the openings in which are flanged to correspond to openings E,-and the outer ends of' which extend to the adjacent ends of the needle-beams and increased in height to correspmid to and till in between the up- 5 per and lower flanges of said beam, and

are flanged laterally, substantially as shown in Figs. and t) of the drawings. The lower end of sheet metal posts (ir lie flat against s the ends of the neeille-beanis, and are riveted 5e to the flanges of castings F, and from thence extend up to nearthe top of the side-walls ot' the car, and are embossed to provide longitudinal vertical ridges g, which taper at their ends, and are designed to greatly stifl'en and strengthen thc posts.

.to should have.

a5 thus materiallyl stiffened and at the same The side-walls H each, preferably, consist of a single plate of' sheet. metal extending from end to end o't' the car, and are of such height as it is desired the body of the car The lower portion L of these side-walls are bent inward at a suitable angle, and the lower edges thereof Hanged horizontally and riveted to the upper edges of the needle-beams and holsters and are time brace the wer ends of the posts. The upper edge portions of said side-walls, above the tops of the posts', are bent or rollend upon the flat body of' the same to form a tubular ic top edge The end-walls of the car-body are also each made of a single plate of sheet metal; their lower portions are riveted to the upper vertically bent flange of the endsills, C, and their upper edges are bent or 15 rolled similar to the upper edges of the sidewalls to form a tubular top edge therefor. The ends of these end-walls below the tubular upper edges thereof are flanged in the direction of the length of the ear, andy lap :2o over and are riveted to the ends of the sidewalls in order to give further stability and rigidity to the corners of the car-body. The lower lnclined portion ofthe side-Walls are, at each end, provided with upturned flanges /L that lap against and are riveted to the lower corner portions of the end-walls, substantially as shown in Fig. of the drawings.v At the upper angles of the corners of the car-body the side and end-Walls are connectedb'y a three-sided metal cowl 7', which covers over'and connects the ends of the tubular upper edges thereof, substantially as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The. endwalls of the body are vfurther strengthened y and stiffened by a star-shaped embossment Maser preferably. very much shorter than the horizontal points, substantially as shown.

I prefer to cover over the center-sill from end to end of' the car with a flat metal plate K. whose width exceeds the width of the flanges of the center-sill, as well as the parallel end-extensions thereof, and is held in place by being riveted to the holsters and the needle-beams. I also prefer to floor over the ends of the ear between the body holsters and the end-sills, on each side of the center floor-plate just alluded to, by rectangular floor-plates 7c, 7:, the edges of which come under the lower horizontal fianged edge of' the lower inclined portion of the sidewalls andare riveted thereto, a-nd to the bolsters, and the overhanging edge of the central floor-plate. Between the holsters the floor of the car consistsof' drop-doors-one between the bolster and the nearest needle.- beam, and between each pair of needle-beams on each side of the center-sill-but I do not desire to be considered as claiming, that the drop-doors (the inner edges f which are hinged to the edges of the center lloorplate),nor the rolling shafts e, nor the mechanism for operating said shafts, nor the means shown for raising and loweringsaid doors, as any part of my invention7 except the novel construction of' the ends of tne needle-beams, as all of these features are fully set forth in Letters Patent granted to C. A. Lindstrom and J. S. Streib, May 30, 1905,' for car door mechanism, No. 761,348.

wWhat I claim as new is 1. In a. car a center-sill comprising a.

flanged metal beam, metalneedle-beams-em.

tending from side to side of the car through" the web connecting the flangesof said center-sill, posts,suitahly'secured to the endsof said beams, and sheet metal sitleaval's; coni-v .of said beams, and sheet metal side-walls connected to said posts. j

3. In a car a center-sill com rising a flanged metal beam, met l needleeams extending from side to s.' le of the car through the web connecting the flanges of said eenl` ter-sill, posts suitably seedred to the ends of said beams, and sheet metal side-walls connected to said posts the lower edges of which are inclined inward.

4. `A car comprising'acenter-sill, metal needle-beams extending from side to side of the car through said center-sill, posts suitlas ably secured to the ends of said beams, and

sheet metal ,side-wallsconnected to said posts the upper edges of 'which are rolled hack upon the body thereof.

5. A car comprising a center-sill,P metal rse ' through said center-sill, posts suitosts the louer edges et which are inclined inwardaiul the upper edges rolled into a 'ulmlar shape. v

G. comprising' a center-sill,V metal iieedle-beanis extending from side to side et' the car thrtaigh said center-sill, posts suitably secured to the ends ot said beams, and sheet metal side-WalsT connected' to said the;longitudinal edges ot which are, bent in traiisverse directions.

T Yln a ca' a .center-sill comprising a njed metal beam, metal needle-beams eX- u'iing from side uto side of the car through.

web e' 'meeting the lianges of said cenrer-sill, posts having" embossed longitudinal. Y f suitably secured to the ends of said s. and sheet metal side-Walls connected to .said posts.

8.. il car comprising a suitable center-sill, and end-sills consisting' et' a channel-beam the upper tlange oit which is bent so that its tippe* side is in the same vertical plane as thel et the beam.

il. ai car comprising a suitable center-sill, and end sills consisting' oi" a chaimel-beam the up; u' flange ot which is bent so that its npper de is in the same vertical plane as the back et' 'the beam and which have intel `l' curved push-poleseats embossed on the f-ebs thereof near each end.

t0. fi car 'comprising` a suitable center- -1'll., metal needle-beams, extending from si 3 te side ot the car throue'l said centersill, end-sills, sheet metal side- 'alls, posts to which said side-walls are secured and ih are connected to the ends ofnsaid nemlle-beauisg and end-Walls connected t ,nd-sills, ,said .side and end-Walls haviei' upper edges bent laterall)7 and is colmeetingr the end edges thereof.

car comprising` a suitable centersilli' metal needle-beams, extending from side to side et the car through said center- Ii. A s. di

ll il sill end-sills, sheet metal side-walls. posts,

hating@ll'ngitudiual ridges embossed therenwhieh said side-uf'alls are secured and are dreams. and end.- alls connected to end-sills. said sideaud endalls hav-- their upper edges bent laterally and is cm1nectinel the end edges' thereof.

il, car comprising a suitable centermetal imedie-beams, endLsills each cousistiug et a channel-beam ha ving` the upper tlv-f3.2 bent upward and the lower portions the end-walls connected to the inner vertica l surtzuf'e et said flange, sheetmetal sidewalls. .posts having lei'xg'itudinal ridges embossed thereon to which said side-mills are secured and -which are connected to the ends et' said needle-beams, and end-walls connectanly secured to theends of said beams, and sheet metal side- Walls connected to said ,:onnected to the ends ot' said:

ed to said end-sills, said side and end-Walls having their upper edges bent laterally and means connecting the end edges thereot'.

13. A car comprising a suitable center-sill, i

metal needle-beams, end-sills each consisting of a channel-beam having the up ver tlange bentA upward and the lower portions of the end-Walls connected to the inner vertical surface of said flange, sheet metal'side-Walls,`

posts haging .longitudinal ridges embossed thereon to which said side-walls are secured and which are connected to the ends ot7 said needle-beams, and end-Walls connected tol said end-sills, said side and end-walls having their upper edges bent into a tubular shape and means connecting the end edges thereof.

14. A ear comprising a suitable center;

a star-shaped figures embossed in them, and

sheet metal side-Walls having their upper edges rolled into a tubular shape in continuation of the Lipper etges of said end-walls and connecting said end-walls.

it). A. car comprising an I-beam centersill, end-sills suitably connected to the same.'

sheet metal end-Walls having-their upper edges rolled into ajtubular shapeand having a star-shaped figure/embossed in them, and sheet metal side-walls haring their upper edges rolled into a tubular shape in continuation ot the upper edges ot' said end-walls and connecting' said 'end-iwalls.

17. A car comprising a suitable center-- sill, end sills suitably cpnnected to the ends thereof, sheet-metal end Walls,- she'et. metal vside-Walls, said end- 'allsand sule-wallslniving their upper edges rolled pack against the body thereof and riveted thereto to form a tubular shape, and a cmvl-shaped corner membereonnecting the tubularupper edges 'of said Walls.

1S. A car comprising a suitable Centersill, end-sills suitably connected to the ends thereof, and consisting of a channel-beam ,having the upper VFlange bent upward until 'the upper surlace thereof is in the same vertical plane` as the back ot said channel, sheet -metal end-Walls having their upper edges rolled into a. tubular sha-pe, sheet metal side- 'alls having their upper edges rolled into a tubular shape, and a cowl-shaped corner .member connecting the upper tubular edges of said Walls.

lf). A car comprising asuitable centersill, end-sills suitably connected tothe ends thereof, needle-beams consisting of I-l'iueams l (lll upper edges rolled into a tubular shape, sheet.

metal side-walls having their upper edges rolled into a tubular shape, and a cowlshaped corner member connecting the upper tubular edges of said avalls.

20. TA ear comprising a suitable centersill, end-sills suitably connected to the ends thereof, sheet. metal end-walls having their upper edges rolled into a tubular'V shape,

sheet metal side-walls having their upper edges rolled into a tubular shape and having their lower edges inclined inward, and a cowl-shaped corner member connecting the npper tubular edges of said walls.

21. A car comprising a suitable center-sill, end-sills suitably connectedto the ends thereof, and consisting of achannel-beam having the upper llange bent upward until the upper surface thereof is in the same verticalplane as the back of said channel, sheet metal end-walls having their upper edges 'rolled' :into a tubular shape and having the lowerfedges thereof inclined inward, and la cowl sideto side of the car, and vertical posts having longitudinal ridges embossed thereon and having their lower portions attached to theends of said needle-beams, sheet metal endwalls havingtheir upper edges rolled into 'a tubular shape, sheet metal side-walls hav- .ing their upper edges rolled into a tubular shape and having their lower edges inclined inward, and a cowl-shaped corner member connecting the uppertubular edges of said walls.

23. An underframe for cars comprising a suitable center-sill, end-sills, and needlebeams consisting of I-beams the upper flange of which is bent or dipped downward mediate its ends.

24. An underframe for cars comprising a single I-beam center-,silhend-sills and needlebeams consisting of I-beams extending continuously from side to side of the car and passing through suitable openings in the web of said center-sill and having their up- 1per flanges dipped downward at the point where they pass through the center-sill.

25. An underframe for cars comprising a single I -beam center-sill, end-sills and needlebeams consisting of I-beain's extendingcontinuously from side toside of the eal and haped corner member connecting the'- i upperltubular edges of said walls.

passing through openings in the web of said center-sill and having their upper lianges dipped downward where they pass through the center-sill, the openings in the latter corresponding in contours to the normal height of the needle-beam but having the height ot' the lower wider part made higher 'than the thickness of the lower flanges of said beam.

26. An -underfraine for ears comprising a suitable metal center-sill, end-sills, and-'needle-beams consisting of I-beams which extend continuously from side to side of the car 2S. A car body comprising a suitable center-sill, needle-beams consisting of a continuous I-beam extending through said center-sill, and having longitudinally elongated openings in the ends thereof, castins havin'g corresponding openings therein secured to either side ot' the endsvotl said needle-beams and having lateral tlanges in same transverse plane as the ends ot' the beams, posts riveted to said flanges, sheet metal side-walls secured to said posts and sheet metal endwalls.

29. A ear-body comprising a suitable center-sill,.needle-beams consisting of" continuous I-beam extending through sai ecnter-sill whose. upper edges are in substantially the same-horizontal, plane as the top edge of said center-sill except where the beams pass through the saine, end-sills, posts the lower portion of which is secured to the ends of said metal-beams, sheet metal sidewalls, the lower edges of which are inclined inward and secured to the upper `flanges ot' said needle-beams and sheet metal end-walls.

30. A car-bodyv comprising` a suitable center-sill, needle-beams consisting of a continuous I-beain extending through said center-Sill whose upper edges are in substantially the same horizontal plane as the top edge ot' said center-sill except where the beams pass through the same, and having 'longitudinally elongated openings in .the ends thereof, castings having corresponding openings therein secured to either side of the ends of said needle-beams and having lateral ilangesin same transverse plane as the vends ot' the beams, posts riveted to said flanges, sieet metal side-walls secured to said posts and" sheet metal end-walls.

ing corresponding openings therein securedV to either side of the ends of said needlebeains and having lateral fianges in sainev as the ends of the beams,

transverse plane said flanges, sheet metal posts riveted to side-walls secured to said posts andfhavingv their lower edges inchned inward and se- .cured to sidMrieedle-beams and sheet-metal end-Walls.

32. A car comprising a suitable underfraine, posts secured to the sides thereof,

, and sheet-metal walls connected to said posts and having their upper edges rolled inward upon the body thereof.

33. A car comprlsing aA suitable under-l frame,- posts secured to the sides thereof,

and sheet-metal walls connected to said posts and having the1r upper edges rolledA and their lower edges inclined.

l 34. A car comprising an' underframe, posts secured'to the sides thereof, and sheetmetal walls connected to said posts and having their upperdges rolled back upon the body thereof and their lower edges inclined inward.

ln testimony whereof I have hereuntoset my hand and seal this 7th`day of April,

A. D., 190s.

WILLIAM r. BET'iENDoRr. [n s] lVitnesses:

J. S. TiroMPsoNf E. K.' LUNnv. 

